Taylor, Charles. Sources of the Self: The Making of the Modern Identity. Cambridge,
MA: Harvard University Press, 1989. (521 pages) 

This book is ridiculously long and detailed as Charles Taylor traces the concept of the modern identity’s development across the ages.  While he brings up legitimate concerns related to individualism, he points out that a value for the individual is a biblical principle that is emphasized in modern developments of self.  This principle of individuality has significant benefits for culture and the church. 

This presentation provides a brief overview of soteriological developments by Erasmus, Luther, and Melanchthon, identifying the antecedent realities leading to their actions during the reformation, addressing their various views, and noting the subsequent developments brought about by their influence.

Limiting the Importance of the Issue: “Not An Essential” 

Another common argument is that women should be allowed to be pastors simply because the issue is not directly essential to salvation.  While an essential issue is Christ and the gospel of His atoning death and resurrection, issues of gender roles cannot be relegated to the unimportant. Adultery is not an essential issue as it relates to salvation, but it is indeed important.  So it is with the complementarian vs. egalitarian issue. 

God has built male headship and female glory into the order of creation (Genesis 1:26-27, 1 Cor. 11). It is no small issue. Notably, if we do not take seriously God’s design as it relates to gender roles, we make ourselves susceptible to all manner of gender degrasions. The issue of homosexuality and transgenderism is certainly a serious issue (Rom. 1:18ff) and is directly tied to the question of gender roles. If we lay aside the clear teaching of Scripture related to gender, there will be no consistent way to stand against the wave of LGBTQ+ ideology sweeping through the culture.

Thus, it is because of the essential nature of the gospel that this issue is so important.  Hermeneutically, if we allow this issue to be treated as a "gray" area, we open up the door for everything else to be treated as such too, including the gospel.  There are issues in Scripture that are less clear.  This is not one of them.  

While the issue of female "pastors" is not as critical as the doctrine of Christ, it is far more important than many realize

Denying Perspicuity: “the Bible Is Not Clear”

Some egalitarians argue that the fact that there is disagreement on the issue means that it is not clear and thus cannot be understood.  The doctrine of perspicuity is helpful here.  There are those that argue that Scripture doesn’t teach the deity of Christ, though it clearly does.  Disagreement does not imply a lack of clarity. 

Further, Deuteronomy 6:6-7 commands parents to teach Scripture to their children, indicating that it can be understood, even by young children. Further, Psalm 19:7 states that “testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.” While 2 Peter 3:16 mentions that some parts of Scripture are harder to understand and can be twisted, the implication is that they are still understandable and that the issue is that they are being intentionally twisted.

Concluding Thoughts

As I mentioned, none of the verses put forth by egalitarians provide any reference to women leading men or to leading house churches.  Believing women are leading house churches in those passages can only be concluded based on presumptions eisegeted into the text while simultaneously ignoring the clear teaching of 1 Timothy 2, 3, 1 Cor. 11, Titus 2, etc. Faithful hermeneutics requires interpreting less clear passages with clear passages, not the opposite.  The deeper issue here is that it is not divisive to hold to the historically orthodox, biblical position.  The charge of division rests on the brothers/sisters who diverge from the plain teaching of the text, especially when the whole of church history supports the complementarian position. 

The hermeneutical method being applied by egalitarians on this issue is an approach that has been taken many times across church history, though it has been applied to this issue only in the last century or so.  When the hermeneutic was applied to revelation by classical liberals such as Schleiermacher, it resulted in apostasy.  When it was applied to the person of Christ by the Arians, it resulted in a denial of salvation.  When it was applied to the issue of slavery by the slavers, it resulted in widespread oppression.  In every case, it led to a denial of the gospel.  

Following the more recent history of the UCC, the UMC, and the Evangelical Lutherans, you will see that the hermeneutic applied to the very issue at hand quickly led to the affirmation of abomination as the very foundations of biblical anthropology had already been abandoned.  Even the first woman pastor, Antoinette Brown Blackwell quickly abandoned biblical orthodoxy and her “pastoral” role to become a Unitarian. Without proper adherence to God’s revelation on the nature of man, the doctrine of sin and subsequently the doctrine of the atonement and the gospel as a whole are jettisoned in short order.  This is absolutely an issue worth picking sides over as it is an issue God has spoken authoritatively on.  I’ve picked a side.  I trust you brothers will join me.

What about passages in which women seem to have authority? 

• Galatians 3:28 is often used to argue for the dissolution of gender roles.  However, the passage is not about the dissolution of roles, but about the unity in Christ that comes with the Gospel. 

• Romans 16:1-7 is used to argue for egalitarianism because the passage names multiple women and commends them for their hard work (Mary, Tryphena and Tryphosa, Persis). However, there is no indication whatsoever of leadership here.  It is merely a greeting. 

  • Similarly, Phoebe is labeled a “deacon'' and Paul asks them to receive her in the Lord and to give her any help she may need. Egalitarians will say this sounds like a person who exerted some sort of authority. However, there is once again no mention of leadership here.  In fact, “deaconess” is the term used.  The term means “servant.”

  • Priscilla and Aquila lead a house church.  The egalitarians will argue, “it sounds like co-lead...possibly.” Once again, there is no mention of leadership here.  Priscilla and Aquila are merely called “fellow workers” as we would refer to any fellow believer.

• Colossians 4:15 is used by egalitarians because it mentions giving greetings to Nympha and the church in her house.  The egalitarians assume that Nympha is leading a house church. Once again, there is absolutely no reference to leadership here.  The passage is a greeting to “Nympha and the church in her house.”  Lydia had a church plant in her house that she did not lead.  The same was the case for the Phillipian jailer.  It is pure eisegesis to assume Nympha was leading a house church.  Notably, within our house church network, it is common to refer to “Gladys’ house” even though the home belongs to both Gladys and her husband, Mike.  The hostess is often mentioned because the home is her domain.  

• 2 John 1:1 is used by lesser educated egalitarians to make the case for a female elder.  However, there is near-universal agreement that “elect lady” refers to a church as “children” are used to refer to attendees. Notably, verse 13 mentions the “children of her elect sister” also referring to church members.  On the off chance that the passage refers to a woman, then there is no reference to a church at all and it is merely a note to a woman and her kids.  In this case she is in no authoritative role over a church at all.  Once again, there is no reference to a woman in leadership here.

• Acts 16;13-15 is sometimes used by egalitarians who assume that people getting saved in her house means she was in a leadership position.  This completely ignores the fact that Paul is ministering in her home.  Like previous passages, Lydia is not mentioned in a leadership role at all.  Like Nympha, she is a hostess fulfilling the “person of peace” role Jesus references in Luke 10. 

• 1 Corinthians 1:11 is sometimes used to argue that Chloe was leading a house church.  There is little content here.  In any case, there is no reference to Chloe in leadership. 

• Egalitarians will also sometimes cite Old Testament and New Testament use of women in the Redemption story as an argument for female elders (ex., Ruth, Esther, Rahab, Deborah, Mary bearing Jesus, Mary as the first witness to the resurrection, etc.).  This doesn’t work for several reasons.

  • Notably, the title “elder” was at times used in the Old Testament, but never for women.  

  • These instances support the complementarian view that God has uniquely called women to roles distinct from men.  Each of these women functions in the roles given uniquely to women. In fact, Mary’s bearing Jesus, a uniquely female role, is a fulfillment of the “seed of woman” promised in Genesis 3.  This is what makes the complementarian view so essential.  If women do what men are called to do, they are not only violating God’s commands, they are missing the unique call He has for women to fulfill.

  • As a side note, the prophetess, Deborah is sometimes used as an argument for female authority because Scripture refers to her “judging.”  However, the role of prophetess is not an authoritative role, but a role for proclaiming judgment.  Once again, there is no indication that she was in a position of authority any more than Samuel was in authority over David when he pronounced judgment upon him.  A judge was neither a king nor an elder.

• Genesis 2:18 is sometimes used to argue that the Hebrew word for help meet is not translated in a strong enough way.  Egalitarians assert that it should mean “a strength equal to. ” They argue that she should be given more authority as a result.  Truly, עזר כנגדו does not imply “weaker” in this context.  Rather it gives the idea of supplying strength where it is lacking.  This is the complementarian position in its purest form.  Man needs woman and woman needs man to complement one another.

The next posts will finish answering the arguments of the egalitarians.

Cultural Hermeneutic: “That Prohibition Was For That Time, Not Now.”

The most common argument for the egalitarian position is the “cultural” argument. While it comes in many forms, it argues that the biblical prohibitions on female teaching and authority over men were due to women being less educated than men.  

It is debatable whether women in cities such as Corinth were less educated.  Also, the pagan temple priestesses would have had authority.  

The real issue is that Scripture never argues from culture when applying complementarian prohibitions on female authority.  In fact, Scripture cites the created order (pre-fall) as an argument for male headship (1 Timothy 2, 1 Cor. 11).  Since the reason for the prohibition is tied to creation, “culture” cannot be used as a reason to no longer apply the principle.  

Definition of Head: “Head means ‘source’ not ‘authority.’”

A lesser-used argument against the complementarian view is the conjecture that “head” in Ephesians 5 means “source” rather than leader or overseer.  In this view, headship is seen as merely an issue of women being created from man, not of authority.  However, every other reference to headship in Scripture involves authority.  Also, the redefinition does not answer other passages such as 1 Timothy 2 and 1 Cor. 11.  Thus the redefinition of the “head” argument is not often used.

Bifurcating Pastor from Elder: “Pastor is a function distinct from the office of elder.”

Recently the Christian and Missionary Alliance has sought to implement egalitarian practices through a separation of the term “pastor” from the term “elder.”  In this view, the role of “elder” is reserved for men, but the title “pastor” is given to women.  At times, they will argue that the term “pastor” is a modern term not a biblical term, arguing that it can be used freely.  There are several problems with this position.  

• "Pastor" is merely an English translation of ποιμένας (Eph. 4:11).  It is a biblical term that means "shepherd." There is no sense in which it is a modern conception.  

• Biblically, the term "pastor/shepherd" was used in the OT and NT to refer to an overseer of some sort.  The term is directly associated with authority (2 Sam 5:8, Isaiah 40:11, etc.).

• The terms "elder," "overseer," and "bishop" are used interchangeably to refer to the office/role of elders and it is only men in this role that are commanded to "pastor." (Acts 20:17,18,28,1 Pet. 5:1-2)

• At no time in Scripture are women told to "pastor."  Only male elders and Christ Himself function in this capacity in Scripture.  Any attempt to attribute the function or the role to women is eisegesis.  

• While I prefer that the term "elder" be used more than "pastor," the fact that Ephesians 4:11 uses the term as a noun gives ample credence to its modern use to refer to elders.  

• Scripture is quite clear (1 Tim 2 especially) that women are not to teach or hold authority over men.  This readily rules out women in pastoral roles of any kind.  The question "what if they are under true elder authority?" ignores the plain teaching of the text.  There is no way for a woman to hold the title of "pastor" (especially the title of "executive pastor") and not be in violation of the command not to "teach or to exercise authority over a man."  Were a woman to teach under the authority of a qualified male elder, if she is teaching a man, she's violating the biblical directive presented in 1 Timothy 2.

These are not the only arguments made for the egalitarian position. I’ll be answering more in forthcoming posts.

Another argument set forth by the egalitarians is that even complementarians treat the use of head coverings as a cultural issue, leaving room to treat prohibitions of female authority as cultural as well.  This argument also falls in on itself.  

• Note that the focus of 1 Cor. 11 is that women are to be under headship.  Prayer and prophecy are mentioned. Neither function bears with it the authoritative role of teaching and both are to be done in submission.  The passage specifically mentions head coverings while praying or prophesying (they are not required at all times). 

• The astute complementarian will respond with a hearty affirmation that women should wear a head covering when publically engaging in either of these practices as it is what is clearly taught in Scripture.  However, there is room for the interpretation that her long hair may be considered a covering for this purpose (though I myself do not hold to that interpretation).  In any case, the principle of submission is clear.  The only question is the application.  Thus the passage should be obeyed in principle at the very least, leaving no room for overturning both 1 Cor. 11 and 1 Timothy 2 on “cultural” grounds.  

• Note that in both the 1 Cor. 11 passage and the 1 Timothy 2 passage, Paul appeals to the created order (how God made us male and female).  "For Adam was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor." (1 Timothy 2:13-14)  He doesn't appeal to newfound freedom or to abuse.  He appeals to how God created men and women.  

• This is one thing that makes this issue so important.  The biblical doctrine of humanity (Image of God) is at stake.  If we ignore teaching on gender roles, especially teaching that appeals to God's order of creation, we open the door to all forms of gender dysphoria, homosexuality, and similar abominations.  This is why every denomination that has made the change the Christian and Missionary Alliance is making soon begins affirming homosexuality.  The battle in each of those denominations was lost when they abandoned God's commands for the roles of men and women in the church.  It is no accident that this is the issue at hand for our church while the culture is abandoning all concepts of human gender. 

As I mentioned, there is evidence that a woman's long hair may serve as her head covering (the term means "down from the head") so, women may consider their hair as a head covering in Church gatherings in obedience to 1 Corinthians 11. While I think it is better to be cautious and wear an additional covering, I do not believe it is essential given the reference to her long hair being a covering.  Our ladies are in obedience to the passage.  Notably, our men similarly follow Paul's direction by not wearing hats in the meeting.  

There is a secondary issue on the topic in that 1 Timothy 2 provides a clear prohibition ("do not permit") whereas 1 Cor. 11 uses the language of "ought" and "should" to address what is proper. While both passages should be obeyed, one is a command (1 Tim. 2) that must be obeyed while the other is a strong suggestion for the sake of honor and the avoidance of disgrace (1 Cor. 11).  

The notable and indisputable principle at play in both passages cannot be ignored in any case.  Both passages clearly teach that women are to be in submission not authority over men, and both passages appeal to God's created order on the matter.  

I've noticed that the complementarian position tends to be placed on the defensive position on this matter when in fact the burden of proof is on the egalitarian.  The historic position that is plainly taught in Scripture is that women are not to serve in positions of authority over men.  Ask the egalitarian: Do you think you could make a case from Scripture for a woman in the New Testament serving in an authoritative position over men in the Church?  Are there any women elders mentioned?  Does Scripture mention any women pastors?  If not, isn't it eisegesis to seek to make them pastors now? 

In the next post, we will answer some of the arguments made by egalitarians.

Attention to Church History

The reality is that there has been near-universal agreement on the issue of male-only headship in the Church until the 19th century.  Antoinette Brown Blackwell is thought to be the first “female pastor” to be ordained in a recognized denomination. Even then, it was only liberal denominations that implemented any form of female authority.  While egalitarians will appeal to “a diversity of interpretations” on the passages at hand, the idea that theologians have interpreted it differently gives the wrong idea.  Orthodox scholars have for millennia agreed that overseers in the church must be elder-qualified males.  Egalitarians will sometimes cite the use of Πρεσβύτιδας “aged woman” in Titus 2:3 to make the case for female elders. However, the term refers to these older women teaching younger women, not to women serving as pastors.

Additionally, the masculine use of the term in the previous verse is used to speak to older men teaching younger men. There is nothing in the context to indicate women pastors are being affirmed. In fact, just the opposite is presented. Furthermore, throughout church history, the term is used to affirm against the concept of female elders (Canon 11 of Laodicea) or to refer to something other than female pastors (Dionysius of Alexandria). The closest thing the elders have to female elders in church history is a variant reading of an apocryphal book. “The Martyrdom of Matthew” is not only apocryphal but does not include a mention of “eldress” in its best manuscripts. It is only in a variant reading that there is a mention of a king becoming an elder with his wife being called “eldress.” This 4th-5th Century variant reading of an apocryphal book cannot be considered reliable by any means.

Irenaeus, Tertullian, Hippolytus, The Didascalia, Firmilian, The Council of Nice, The Council of Laodecia, Epiphanius of Salamis, John Chrysostom, The Apostolic Constitutions, Agustine, and many others deny female eldership/ordination. This is not to say that church history is the authority on the issue. We have already established what the Word of God says on the issue. This does answer the “diverse interpretations” issue. The Church has agreed for millennia on this issue.

Any time churches change doctrine in ways that match cultural views, we should be alarmed. 

At times, egalitarians will point to women serving in key roles in Church history.  They will note that Gregory of Nazianzus wrote a letter to Gregory of Nyssa about Theosebia, affirming the “free speech” of women and the “priestliness” of Theosebia. However, the priesthood of all believers was affirmed then as now (1 Peter 2:5). Even the most patriarchal churches will readily affirm the priestly role of all believers. This quote from Gregory provides no support for female elders or pastors. None of the females serving in Church history were in positions of eldership, nor did they engage in the authoritative role of teaching men. 

The Priesthood of All Believers

However, this should not discourage the sister in Christ who ants to serve. Women are commanded to offer spiritual sacrifices (1 Peter 2:5) just as men are commanded. While this is not an elder role, it is no less important. The great tragedy of egalitarianism is that it admonishes women to do the work of men while neglecting both the critical importance of the role of women and the faithful work to which all believers are called.

All believers are commanded to exercise spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12, Romans 12), to bear one another’s burdens, to confess sin and forgive one another, to pray for one another, etc. These essential functions of the church are often ignored, yet they are critical. Further, there is no prohibition against them.

Further, women are called uniquely to minister in ways that men cannot. Titus 2:3 commands older women to teach the younger. Women are affirmed as the “glory of man” and are held in high esteem as they nurture and oversee the home and disciple other women (something men should not be doing). The unique and focused discipleship of children in the home requires the gifting of women in what may be the most influential role to train up the next generation.

More on this later….

The issue of the roles of women in the Church has become a divisive topic in recent years, one that is tied to other volatile topics such as feminism and Critical Theory. This series of blog posts is designed to address the issue and answer the common objections to biblical gender roles in the Church.

Complementarianism, or Egalitarianism | The Question of Female Pastors or Elders

The question of female elders/pastors has come to the forefront in evangelical circles over the last few years.  The discussion warrants theological reflection.  Approaching the issue requires a definition of terms with the recognition that proponents of the respective views may hold nuanced positions within them.

• Complementarian: the view that men and women are equal in value but distinct in their roles.  This distinction is not merely cultural but is part of the created order (Gen. 1:26-27, 1 Timothy 2-3, 1 Cor. 11).  Applied, the complementarian view holds that women are to oversee the household, engage in commerce, and support their husbands, but that the husband is to lead the home (Ephesians 5).  This male headship is also to be reflected in the leadership within the church as only qualified men are to serve as pastors/elders or to teach other men (1 Tim 2-3).  

• Egalitarian: the view that women and men are equal in value and that there is little to no distinction between male and female roles.  Applied, this view tends to value some distinctions but denies that the role of pastor/elder is reserved for men only.  

Properly understood, complementary theology leads to biblical patriarchy (Male leadership extending to the home and civic sphere, not just the church. Husbands and fathers lead, provide, and protect as wives and mothers nurture and thrive in the home). Key to biblical patriarchy is the idea that women are the “glory” of mankind. Since man is the crown of God’s creation and woman is the glory of man (1 Cor. 11), a woman’s role is distinct from a man's but it is no less important. In fact, her role is to be glorious. The fundamental issue patriarchy has with egalitarianism is not that men are robbed of their role, but women are kept from serving in their glorious role as the glory of mankind.

Initial Considerations

There are several key passages that restrict the role of pastor/elder to men:

• 1 Timothy 2:8-15 teaches that women are to neither teach nor exert authority over men. This prohibition is linked to the created order and immediately precedes the qualifications for elders.

• The qualifications for Elders in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1 refer to males only (Notably, in the case of 1 Timothy 3 the qualifications come in the context of forbidding women to teach or oversee men.)

• Additionally, women are prohibited from holding authoritative roles, especially related to teaching men (1 Timothy 2-3, 1 Cor. 11).  

• Notably, Paul addresses the issue of male headship in 1 Cor. 11 noting that faithful churches consistently apply biblical guidelines of headship.  In fact, Paul says that among the churches there is “no other practice.”

Therefore, the burden of proof is upon the Egalitarian to make answer each of these passages. The issue has been spoken to clearly in Scripture and confirmed in Church history (as we will see). Tom Ascol was once asked to hold off on theological debate to which he responded: “It’s not a matter of theology; it’s a matter of English.” The Egalitarian must make the case that passages do not apply because they cannot make the case that the passages in question support their view.

This first post is merely to establish the topic. We will address the issue of Church history on this issue in the next post.

For now, check out the documentary By What Standard? from Founders Ministries.

Romans 13 is a passage that is not so often exegeted as it is rolled up like a newspaper and used to bludgeon citizens into submission to authorities that bear no resemblance to the magistrates described in the text. Historically, the worst of tyrants have misused Romans 13 to keep their subjects from obeying God rather than men.

There are a few things that I like to point out in relation to Romans 13:

• The passage describes the magistrates as God’s servants (not the other way around).

• The passage describes the role of governing authorities to punish evil and promote good. Anytime a ruler does the opposite, he is in that instance no longer within his/her prescribed role and should not be obeyed as such.

• The writer of Romans (Paul) was arguably disobeying governing authorities simply by writing the book of Romans. Thus, the passage cannot be a blanket command to obey rulers no matter what.

• God has instituted at least three earthly authorities, each having their own sphere of oversight: Fathers over homes, Elders over churches, magistrates over criminal/civil affairs.

• The whole council of Scripture leaves no room for blind obedience to governing authorities. The Bible is replete with instances of civil (and not so civil) disobedience. The Hebrew midwives defied Pharaoh’s order to kill baby boys (Exodus 1:15-22). Samuel hacked King Agag to pieces in obedience to God, because King Saul failed to obey God (1 Samuel 15). Obadiah defied Jezebel to protect God’s prophets (1 King 18:2-4). Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refuse to bow to the King’s idol (Daniel 3). Daniel prayed to God instead of the King, openly defying the decree to wait 30 days (Daniel 6). Peter and the other apostles preach the Gospel in defiance to the chief priests, declaring “we must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29).

For a more detailed exposition of Romans 13, have a look at Dr. Jame’s White’s approach.

Consider verse 3: “For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval.” Does that sound like the rulers of present or even recent regimes?

Under Obama, 90% of deaths from drone strikes killed civilians rather than terrorists. The practice wasn’t much better with Bush or Trump. Did you know that the leading cause of death globally in 2020 was abortion? Our government legalizes, approves, facilitates, and funds the murder of children in the womb. I could talk about unjust sentencing for marijuana possession, lack of punishment for rapists, or any other obscene statute, but I don’t think any of it tops the wholesale slaughter of children.

The Psalmist has something to say about it.

Psalm 94 describes wicked rules fashion injustice with their laws. Their laws are specifically designed to rob and murder. Such a wicked ruler cannot be aligned with God. These are not the rulers described in Romans 13, and their statutes are not to be obeyed but defied.

I write this, because we have an obedience problem in Evangelical Christianity. Scores of “pastors” wrongly applied Romans 13 in order to obey unlawful virus mandates in defiance of God’s plain command that we not forsake the assembly (Hebrews 10:23-25). These same “pastors” scrambled to to take Payment Protection loans in order to preserve their own salaries. In doing so, they rendered to Caesar that which is God’s. They will answer to Him for having abandoned their post, forsaking the church which He bought with His blood (Acts 20:28).

Side note: Since my original writing, Pastor James Coates has been incarcerated in Alberta, Canada for obeying God’s command to assemble the saints. Countless Canadian and American pastors have condemned his obedience to God. I posted a comment on the subject and was derided by many who used multiple means of argumentation while neglecting the Word of God. For more on this issue, watch the report from Founders Ministries.

Weak shepherds have left the sheep with an admonition to obey the wolves. We know how this will end…unless something changes.

Obedient Disobedience

Presently, in oppressive tyrannies like Iran, California, Saudi Arabia, Washington, China, North Korea, Canada, Russia, and the like there are faithful saints defying stay at home orders and anti-proselytizing laws to worship God, proclaim the Gospel, and make disciples. Many of them have risked or lost their jobs, faced jail time, or have been buried under fines. Many others have been cut off from their families, beaten, tutored, starved, and killed.

You’ll forgive my anger that supposed pastors are willing to declare the blood of Christ “non-essential” by means of abandoning the practice of communion or when the withering soul of a weak brother is not edified through the singing of Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs (Ephesians 5:18-19), because his pastor is afraid of what fines the magistrate might levy.

The mandates are illegal. Defy them.
Obey both God and the law of the land by telling the tyrants to pound sand.

Have you forgotten Who the magistrate serves? Have you forgotten Who you serve? The governing authorities are only to be obeyed insomuch as they remain in their biblically mandated role to punish evil (Romans 13). Their edicts outlining how God is to be worshipped in the assembly is tantamount to blasphemy. God is the one who declares how He is to be worshiped. Interference from the state into the affairs of the Church places the magistrates outside the servanthood of God and under His wrath. Don’t be so foolish as to follow them there.

Obey God rather than men (Acts 5:29).

Side note: Both Romans 13 and our biblical examples remind us to obey rulers in every way that we can without disobeying God. Daniel 3 and 6 provide helpful examples as does Acts 5. Obey where you can. Disobey where you must. Be prudent.

Practices

Given the reality that multiple states and municipalities in the United States have overstepped their God given boundaries and have instituted restrictions on the faithful gathering of God’s saints, I am compelled as a pastor and theologian to remind the faithful of essential practices that must be firmly established in preparation for what is to come, be it peace or persecution. This list is not exhaustive.

1. Preach the gospel of Christ’s atoning death and resurrection to pay for our sin and restore us back to God (Matthew 28:18-20). There are many who claim Christ that do not love Him enough to proclaim His good news in the easiest of times. If you are too fearful to preach the gospel now, you will be too fearful when your life and livelihood is at risk. Call your neighbor, schedule a meeting with your unsaved friend, invite your sister to Bible study. Preach the gospel.

2. Gather with the saints (Hebrews 10:23-25). You cannot afford the neglect the Lord’s Day gathering. The New Testament is filled with commands for the gathering, commands that require you assemble in person. Risk infection. Risk fines. Risk death if necessary. Assemble with the church and offer spiritual sacrifices as you edify one another in song, through the use of gifts, and through the breaking of bread. If you won’t come to church for fear of a virus, you certainly won’t come when there is risk of imprisonment.

3. Teach your children (Proverbs 22:6). It is your job, not the church’s to educate your Children in the Word. You are the one who is called to disciple them. Now is the time to faithfully catechize your kids (try New City Catechism), to teach them Scripture, to disciple them through family worship around the dinner table. The truth is that a day might come in which they are taken away and must propagate the gospel on their own as tiny missionaries. It’s happening in China. Let’s make sure we’ve already catechized our kids, so they can lead the underground studies in the re-education camps.

4. Avoid “endless genealogies and quarrels about the law” (Titus 3:9). The gospel of salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone matters greatly. Yet, I continue to hear about Christians forsaking the proclamation of the gospel to debate tertiary issues or to find “secret codes” in Hebrew texts. Occasionally, this leads to heresy. Consistently, it leads to distraction from the gospel work. Quit looking for mystical experiences, quit focusing all of your study time on finding a new fact that no one else knows or something you can quiz your pastor on. Preach the gospel. Make disciples. Quit wasting your time

5. Appeal to the lesser magistrate. As Romans 13 indicates, God has placed rulers there to protect us. Notably, Romans 13 seems to speak primarily of the local magistrate. Look up the doctrine of the “lesser magistrate” and our duty to call upon local leaders to protect us from tyranny. Did you know that Sherifs can arrest federal agents? Get acquainted with the history of the Magisterial Reformation.

6. Keep your guns. I’m not here advocating for violence. I plan to discuss the use of weapons for defense and rescue in another post. For now, know that historically the presence of weapons in the hands of the people kept tyranny in check (to some degree). Jesus did command the purchase of swords (Luke 22:36). God trains the hands of the Psalmist for war (Psalm 144:1). David’s men had swords at the ready (1Samuel 25:13). We are commanded to rescue those being led away to death (Prov. 24:11). Scripture makes allowance for using lethal force for self defense (Exodus 22). A man is expected to provide for his family, including protection (1 Timothy 5:8). More on all this later.

7. Make Preparations. The command for a man to provide includes food and shelter as well as protection (1 Timothy 5:8). Similarly, it is wise to hide oneself from foreseen danger (Proverbs 22:3). Scripture reminds us to store food in times of plenty to be prepared for times of want (Genesis 6, 41). Now is a good time to eliminate debts and procure assets. Store some dry goods should you need them. Maybe get some alternative currencies. Learn some skills for self-sustaining and caring for others. Don’t go crazy. Just be prudent.

8. Learn from the persecuted Church. Pastor Wang Yi who is now being held in Chinese prison for his obedience to Christ rather than men wrote this statement to be shared upon his imprisonment. Please read it.

9. Abide in Christ. Fruit is borne by abiding in Christ as His Word abides in you (John 15), by walking in the Spirit (Galatians 5). Let delighting in God be your first priority, and enjoy the joy that comes with it (Psalm 16:11).

I’ll leave you with the rest of Psalm 94. It’s good news. God does not take lightly the persecution of His children. His wrath is in store for the wicked unless they repent. In which case we will rejoice with them in heaven!

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]]>Obedient Disobedience, Part 3: Injustice by Statute and the Proclamation of the GospelDaniel SammsThu, 21 Jan 2021 16:18:11 +0000https://undergroundseminary.net/blog/2021/1/16/obedient-disobedience-part-2-joyful-suffering-and-the-perfect-plan-of-god555becd6e4b0147380698a5b:55613822e4b097b77baedf04:600336500cf85b2daebdd737In my last post, Obedient Disobedience, Part 1: Pagan Riots, Persecution, and a Pinch of Incense I addressed the current state of the world and the impending danger that may “evangellies” will deny the Lordship of Christ to save their skin, comfort, livelihood, pride, et al. The post was meant to motivate action more than encourage emotions. This post is meant to encourage, though it might not seem so to many.

Mute Idols vs. The Sovereignty of God

Idolatry is tempting, because idols can be manipulated to align with the desires of the idolater. Psalm 135:15-18 points out the obvious worthlessness of idols.

The appeal of idols has nothing to do with their strength. Idolatry is attractive, because gods of silver and gold are meant serve the idolater, not the other way around. Idols require sacrifice. Give and take is part of the game. But, ultimately in the world if idolatry, the idolater gets to feel in control, and his wishes (not God’s) drive his worship.

We do not serve a God of idols.

In our Doctrine of God (Theology Proper) course we study God’s attributes as well as His decree (among other topics). One of the attributes we study is God’s sovereignty, specifically His sovereign will. God’s sovereignty of will along with His omnipotence means that what He purposes according to His perfect council, He accomplishes by His perfect power through His sovereign decree. Put simply: nothing happens that God does not want to happen.

You will recall Job’s suffering, his questions to God, and God’s lengthy rhetorical response. Job had lost everything but his life. God never tells Job why. He simply asks a series of questions meant to remind Job who he is talking to. After God refreshes Job’s memory about Who it was that laid the foundation of the earth, who hung the starts in the heavens, and who draws out leviathan with a hook, Job puts his hand over his mouth and acknowledges his own foolishness to speak back to the God of creation. Near the end of the book, Job acknowledges the following:

Mark that statement. Burn it into your memory. Rejoice over it. Repent for doubting it. We don’t serve manipulatable idols. We don’t sacrifice hoping we’ve done enough to appease idols. We rest in the knowledge that nothing can thwart the will of God.

God’s Sovereign Will and Good for Those Who Love HIm

Paul reiterates the good news of God’s sovereign will in his letter to the Ephesians, turning the focus specifically on the believing and God’s plan to save us.

Pay careful attention here. We (the believing) enjoy an inheritance in Christ, because we have been predestined by God, adopted as His children. That predestination is in accordance with the counsel of his will which cannot be thwarted (Job 42:2). Among other things, this means that the elect in Christ have no fear of losing that which is most precious to us, our salvation in Christ.

Paul develops this concept further in Romans 8.

Note that all things work together for the good of those who love God, those who are called according to His purpose. This harkens back to Ephesians 1:11 in which we are predestined according to the counsel of His will…which cannot be thwarted.

Then Paul lays out what is known as the “golden chain” of redemption. Those whom God knew before the foundation of the earth He predestined to be conformed into the image of Christ. The predestination is not merely for salvation, it is for Christlikeness. Thus, by God’s sovereign decree the predestined are called, the called are justified (declared righteous), and the justified are glorified (conformed to the image of Christ).

This means that the believer is guaranteed not just salvation in Christ but glorification in eternity. This is the context of God working all things together for our good. Our sanctification and ultimate glorification is the good that God is working all things for. Ultimately, this results in glory to God.

This means that everything that happens is perfectly in accord with God’s will to form us into the image of God. Everything that happens. Everything.

This is especially important to remember in times of tribulation.

Election fraud, wicked leaders, Persecution, and thanking God for all of it

It is tempting to turn to idolatry when suffering is immanent. Idols can be appeased. False gods can be reimagined for convenience. Not so with the God of creation. No one gives him counsel (Romans 11:34). He works all things according to the counsel of His will. Nothing happens unless He has commanded it (Lamentations 3:37-39).

It is no surprise that the false prophets of modern Christianity falsely prophesied a Trump re-election. They hoped against hope that a lecherous narcissist would defend Christians from an impending wave of persecution from child murderers. Instead of throwing their children into a Moloch furnace, these idolaters threw their testimonies into the dumpster fire of American politics and hoped the result would be safety and prosperity. Incidentally, the leftists did the same thing, hoping instead to retain their “wokeism” and praise of men by way of virtue signaling.

I am not here condemning the “vote for the lesser of two evils” crowd. Holding your nose and voting for the candidate you believe gives you the best chance to live peaceably with all men is one thing; laying aside God’s Law to call an adulterer or a child murderer “virtuous” is another. Looking to either for some form of salvation makes you an idolater.

There’s no question that the election was manipulated by fraud. A faithful Christian who believes that the testimony of 2-3 witnesses is enough to confirm a matter (Deut. 19:15) cannot ignore 900 affidavits, multiple anomalies, and videos showing unchecked vote counting. Christians that believe in the rule of law and the (see Romans 13) cannot ignore constitutional violations related to voting in multiple states. Libertarian Christians will also point out that third party candidates are blocked form debating by a bi-partisan (not non-partisan) committee designed to ensure that the choice is between two evils.

I’m not a Trump supporter, but I am an epistemologist. Let’s call a spade a spade. There was fraud.

I’m relatively confident there was fraud on all sides. I’m not sure we’ve had a fair election for a very long time. Can we expect anything else? Our country is run by wicked rulers who “frame injustice by statute” (Psalm 94:20). Do we really expect a group of officials who give hearty approval to child murder organizations or who brag about assaulting women to suddenly become judicious overseers when it comes to elections that control which one of them has power?

Further sobering is the reality that the aforementioned child murderers and election thieves now control world’s most powerful military along with domestic surveillance capabilities unlike anything afforded to tyrants in history. With their conveniently procured senate seats, they also have the ability to block filibusters and pretty much do as they like. Christian organizations see the Equality Act looming. The leftist machine’s corporate arm and it’s fresh affinity for censorship combined with the banking industry’s new proclivity to take away means of exchange on a whim sets the stage for persecution like you and I have never seen. I’m not going to lie. It’s going to be bad.

And yet, the faithful are called to rejoice.

Consider James’ admonition to the persecuted Church:

This is not a mere platitude. It isn’t some blind pretension. It is a command to count it joy when we suffer for Christ. Considering the reality of election fraud and the persecution that we are likely to face as a result of it, am I will to acknowledge that this like all things is occurring according to the perfect plan of God in adherence to His perfect counsel from before He spoke light into existence?

Am I willing to acknowledge, like Job, that the God who laid the foundations of the earth, hung the starts in the sky, and knows the number of hairs on my head allowed every election anomaly in November? Am I further willing to rejoice that His perfect plan is coming to fruition even as faithful Christians are fined for gathering to worship? Will I rejoice in tribulation as every executive order for religious protection is overturned in the coming days? Should the day come that we face financial ruin and even death for the cause of Christ, will I use my lungs to worship the God who gave me breath as my last one is taken away by the noose?

This may not be the encouraging post for which you were hoping. There is plenty of Scripture affirming God’s blessing, even His material blessing. Even now, I’m hoping that God providentially implements a eucatastrophe, closing the mouths of the lions, keeping us un-scorched from the flames, lifting us to prominence and lavishing us with material blessings. He’s done it before. He can do it again if He so decrees.

But, I know that He wants the greatest good for His children. And, that greatest good is that we be formed into the image of His Son. This requires cross-bearing. Historically it has meant martyrdom.

I’m not pretending I’m looking forward to suffering. I’m not. In fact, I am fearful of my flesh when real persecution is immanent. But, I can’t say that my heart doesn’t have a joyful ache to share in the joy of those who have suffered before us for Christ. There are many who have gone before us and who are even now joyfully suffering for the cause of Christ in Chinese re-education camps, in Iranian prisons, and in countless places unknown to us.

May we share in their joy.

May God prepare us for such a joyful act of worship.

By the way, if you haven’t taken our Doctrine of God course, now is a good time.

This week I received multiple messages from brothers and sisters in Christ who are deeply concerned about the state of the country (and the world) and what may be in store for Christians in the coming weeks, months, and years.

It is no coincidence that the messages increasingly came through encrypted messenger apps as the week progressed. The messages shared common themes of concern and fear as not one of us knows exactly what is going to happen or what it means for us.

What we do know presently is troubling.

Troubling events and Known Realities

For instance, the most prominent tech companies in the world are censoring content that does not align with a radically "progressive" agenda. Parler was not just banned from app stores, Amazon denied them web hosting. For those not familiar with how website hosting works, this is equivalent to having the electric company shut off your power, because they don’t like what you are reading by lamp light.

The censorship doesn’t stop there. The President of the United States has been blocked from posting on any major social media feed. I don’t think the gravity of this reality hasn’t really hit any of us yet. If they can prohibit “the leader of the free world” from making public comments on all of the prominent communication exchanges, you and I can be assured that no one’s right to free speech is safe. You may have missed that in the shadow of the POTUS ban a wide array of Christian and conservative public and private figures faced similar sweeping bans without warning.

Keep in mind that most of the tech giants implementing bans are publicly traded companies that enjoy all of the associated benefits, many of whom receive government subsidies. This means that by way of our tax dollars you and I helped pay for the censorship we now face.

It’s worth noting that Apple doesn't block apps that distribute violent pornography. Twitter hasn't banned the accounts of users who called for children from conservative families to be murdered. Amazon hasn't denied web hosting to websites that allow child abusers to share images. (I won't help them by sharing their links, but these are all verifiable facts.)

The present censorship has a singular target: conservatives. And, correctly or not, the censors of the tech and political world directly associate conservatism with Christianity.

Have you noticed that the general tenor of media reports about the rioting at the capital was to associate rioters with Christian nationalism? The same was true of comments from leftists in discussions. I speak from personal experience. For the left, there is no distinction between conspiracy theorists and truth seekers, neo-nazis and respecters of authority, biblical family values and sexist oppression, personal property and theft, pro-life and anti-woman, etc. For the leftists, Christianity is the singular thread tying it all together and the root that they must remove to bring about their progressivist utopia.

It is for this reason that the left will place the blame on Christians for the riots, despite the fact that the endeavor was pagan through and through. Did you happen to see that “Buffalo Guy,” the most prominent figure among the rioters was a shaman. Yes, he is an actual pagan. The milieu of rioters identified in recent days reflects a smattering of radical leftists and far right rabble rousers. Yet, Christians will bear the brunt of the public blame.

I don't doubt that there were those among them that claim to be Christians, maybe some who are believers who were foolishly (sinfully) swept up with the fury of the mobs. I certainly understand the temptation, given the larger than normal pills of deception we've been order to swallow of late. Doug Wilson did a great job addressing this topic on a recent episode of his podcast entitled, “The God’s of Civil Unrest and Jesus Mobs.” I recommend the episode. Wilson is right on.

There is nothing in God's Word that advocates the destruction of property, the foolish display of disorder, nor the idolatry of the state for that matter. Search the Scriptures. You'll find no instance in which a mob is praised for it's judicial action, no instance of a belligerent rabble praised for its righteousness. Notably, neither will you find any instance in which the believing are praised for obeying wicked rulers as they order disobedience to the King of Kings. More on this later.

Despite all this, the public blame for the present disorder will be placed on Christians. It’s the oft recycled old trick of the pagans. Consider Acts 17:5-6. A mob forms and then proceeds to blame the Christians for "causing trouble all over the world." The people of Ephesus riot in Acts 19, again blaming the Christians for causing the disruption. Like the recent capital riots, there was confusion as an array of groups rioted for different reasons, but they were all happy to unify in opposition to the Christians.

Fast forward a few years and you’ll see Nero blame Christians for the burning of Rome, a fire he either started or allowed to continue for his own purposes. Fast forward again, and you'll find that the pagans blamed the Christians for the Visigoth's sacking of Rome in 410. Look across the globe right now and you will find it to be the same as Christians are labeled “disturbers of the peace.”

Do you see the theme? Pagan idolaters riot.
Then, pagan idolaters blame Christians for the disruption.

Blame, Persecution, and a Pinch of Incense

America is pagan nation, and the state is it’s god. Listen to the politicians responses to the riots. Senator Dick Durbin referred to the capital as a “temple” and a “sacred space.” This is not new. The Lincoln Memorial is called a “temple” in it’s own etching. In fact it refers to him being enshrined in the hearts of the people.

The acolytes of statism see the state as their hope and savior. They look to it to solve everything from poverty to education to personhood. And, they will accept nothing short of universal devotion. The state wishes to be your provider of healthcare, education, housing, and protection. All it asks in return is your devotion.

Many are surprised to learn that Christianity is legal in Communist China…as long as you attend a state church. Many are further surprised to hear that Christianity was legal under First Century Roman rule. Pagans are happy to welcome neutered gods into their pantheon as long as devotees divert devotion to the state.

Christians under Roman rule were asked to bow before an idol and throw a pinch of incense on a fire that burned to caesar, in the process declaring “Kaiser Kurios” (“Caesar is Lord”). The faithful refused. The Christians in the arena, facing death could have been spared had they simply said those two words. The faithful refused and sealed their testimonies with blood, proclaiming “Jesus Kristus Kurios” (“Jesus Christ is Lord”).

The modern statist lip service takes a different form, but it is no less tyrannical. Instead of “Kaiser Kurios” the state requires we allegiance through multifaceted lip service:

• Instead of “God created them male and female,” the state requires preferred pronouns antithetical to reality. “They/their” is a “Kaiser Kurios” of the modern left.

• Instead of God’s standards of justice, we are required to adopt the tyranny of critical theory in all its forms or face de-platforming, humiliation, and the like.

• Instead of remembering Christ’s atoning death through bread and wine communion (Matt. 26:28,1 Cor. 11:26), instead of obeying Christ’s command to gather (Hebrews 10:23-25), instead of edifying one another in song (Eph. 5:19), instead of obeying the myriad of commands essential to the life of the Church, we are required to call the gathering of the saints “non-essential” or face defamation, fines, imprisonment, etc.

• (The list will grow by the congressional session and by the executive order. The impending “Equality Act” alone will decimate public organizations holding to Christian world views. )

Side Note: I’ve grown weary of the “stay home stay safe” crowd. If God’s command for you to gather with the saints is not essential to you, if you are too afraid of illness, death, offense, or the state to stand with us now, then don’t pretend that you will stand with us on the gallows when we seal our testimonies with our dying breaths.

Additional Side Note: A board of elders in Canada faced fines and imprisonment recently. Their letter of response is as bold a declaration as I have heard since Luther’s “Here I stand.” Read it here.

The temptation to burn that pinch of incense, to tilt the head to the idol, to give that lip service to “Caesar” is only going to increase in the coming weeks, months, and years. All they want is a little blasphemy. All they want is for you to say the words to submit to their idols of child sacrifice, state intervention, critical theory, gender denial, and the like.

You can avoid fines by forsaking the assembly just like Andy Stanley has done. You can keep you job by using preferred pronouns. You can keep your medical care by going along with HHS mandates promoting child murder. You can keep your business by piping a “Adam and Steve” on a wedding cake. In this modern statism you can deny the Lordship of Jesus Christ and save your skin with less than a pinch of incense. It’s easier than ever to call Caesar your Lord.

I have some encouraging words, I will share in Part 2 of this series. For now, I’m calling you to faithful obedience to Christ in defiance to tyrants.

The temptation to give lip service to governing authorities seeking to place themselves on the throne of our hearts increases daily.

Don’t give in.

Declare “Jesus Kristus Kurios.”

Defy tyrants by obeying God.

Open your windows and pray.

Meet with the saints to sing study the Word, take communion, and sing hymns.

Refuse to bow when the music plays.

Obey God rather than men.

Jesus will meet us in the furnace.

See also: Obedient Disobedience Part 2: Joyful Suffering and the Perfect Plan of God.

Now more than ever, faithful believers in the U.S. are troubled by weak or bad doctrine and unbiblical practices in their churches. It has been brewing in theological liberalism and mysticism taking hold in modern evangelical churches, and it is boiling over as many churches abandon the biblical commands for the Church in the midst of political tension.

Over the years, people have come to me struggling in churches that were not teaching Scripture rightly or were otherwise grossly neglecting the commands for the Church. Sometimes it was overt in the form of plain heresy. More often, it was in the form of omission of teaching related to politically charged topics like homosexuality, civil disobedience, and gender roles. My counsel would usually be to stay and try to change the church from within, thinking that this was somehow the nobler option. I thought that staying and trying to advocate for biblical truth was the best thing for the Kingdom of God.

However, in every case the faithful saints were fighting a futile battle, sacrificing their spiritual well-being and the well-being of their families to be forced to the the margins and maligned for holding to faithful orthodoxy and orthopraxy. Eventually (usually after a few years), the faithful saints would leave their churches more dejected and defeated than ever, finding it impossible to change the church they loved and for which they gave themselves up. In some cases, staying cost them their marriages or their families due to spending years, even decades, outside the shepherding of faithful pastors/elders. Years of ministry were spent fighting for truth in the place that should be lifting up the truth already (1 Tim 3:15). Faiths were shipwrecked. I now regret giving those saints the advice I did. I wish now that I had told them to confront the error and then leave to find a disciple-making church in which to serve and be shepherded.

If Your Church Isn’t Obeying God’s Word, Who Are They Obeying?

Churches that aren’t obeying the Word of God are obeying someone’s word. Sometimes that someone is a power-hungry leader building his/her own kingdom. Sometimes it’s just a nice guy who is ill-equipped and unqualified to serve as a pastor (and is thus controlled by the power-hungry leader). Sometimes they are obeying the “winds of doctrine” tossing them around (Eph. 4:14). Sometimes they are obeying the reigning cultural trends controlled by the “prince of the power of the air” (Eph. 2:2) In any case, the faithful believers who desire to hear the Word of God taught and see it obeyed find making changes impossible. In a church that has abandoned the Word of God for idolatry, there is no place for reasoned exegesis.

This is not to say that that Scripture should not be cited in confronting leaders. Rather, we must expect that it will be more likely to serve the role of condemnation than correction. Biblical confrontation only leads to repentance when the hearer is a Christ-follower to whom Scripture is the final authority. Keep in mind that the issue at hand is that those leaders have already departed from Scripture as their final authority.

We all think we can change an idolatrous church from within. We are all optimistic. We all want to give the church we love (and to which we have given our time and treasure) another chance. But we are seldom successful. Even Martin Luther wanted to reform the Roman Catholic Church from within, but the papacy tried to kill him. So he left.

I’m Not Writing This to discourage You.
I’m Writing to Get You to Change Tactics.

This is not to say that we should not attempt to reform churches. Rather, our attempts must be biblical, direct, and limited. If your church is in error, meet with your pastor or elder, point to Scripture, ask him to turn from error and to the truth (2 Timothy 3:16-17, Titus 3). If he doesn’t, take it to the rest of the elders (if your church doesn’t’ have elders, then it’s not a church). If they don’t conform to Scripture, click the dirt off of your feet and find a faithful church. Titus 3 recommends two warnings before having nothing to do with false teachers. It doesn’t recommend walking with false teachers indefinitely in some vain hope that you can change them over time. Confront, warn, then shake the dust off of your feet. The same goes for those who would continue in sin (2 Thess. 3:14, 1 Cor. 5:3-5).

Sometimes the issue isn’t pronounced false doctrine. Many unhealthy churches have good statements of faith which they ignore in practice. For instance, if your pastor or an elder doesn’t know you, then he isn’t shepherding you, and he isn’t your pastor. If your church doesn’t administer discipline, it isn’t your church. If your church doesn’t equip you to lead family worship in your home, disciple your brother, or evangelize your neighbor, it isn’t your church.

There is a significant issue as to how far modern churches have drifted from the teaching and practices God commanded. There’s not room for a lengthy discussion on the topic here, but I’ve found that most American Christians don’t know why Church is important or what their pastor is actually supposed to do. So I’ve included a brief set of principles to consider.

Is Your Church a Church?

Have you ever considered the commands God gave to the Church and thought about whether or not you and your church were obeying them? Here are a few principles to consider:

• There should be elders (Acts 15:4, Titus 1:5, 1 Peter 5:1-4, James 5:14, Hebrews 13:17). If your church doesn’t have elders or if one of those elders isn’t in a meaningful shepherding role over you, you aren’t in a church. It may be a church plant in process, which is fine (see Titus 1:5). But if your church is established without elders, it isn’t a church.

• The gospel of Christ’s atoning death for your sin and His resurrection from the dead should be preached regularly (Acts 15). Repentance and faith should be the response called for (Acts 2, Romans 10:9-10). If you aren’t hearing the real gospel, the one where you are a sinner and Jesus suffered God’s wrath on the cross for your sin and rose from the dead, then you are not in a church.

• Baptism and communion should be regular parts of worship. If your church doesn’t do baptism and the Lord’s supper, it isn’t a church (Matthew 28:18-20, 1 Cor. 11). It doesn’t have to do so every week, but either your church administers the ordinances or it isn’t a church.

• Church discipline must be administered. If your church doesn’t discipline its members, then it isn’t a church (Matthew 18, Titus 3, 1 Cor. 5). Is sin confronted? Have you ever seen them publicly announce discipline? Has your spiritual overseer lovingly rebuked you? If not, you might not be in a church at all.

• Biblical doctrine should be taught faithfully. If your church does not catechize you with faithful doctrine, then it isn’t a church (2 Tim. 3:16-17, Ephesians 4). I’m not just talking about sermons based on the Bible. Do you learn theology in your church? Are you taught why Jesus must be both fully man and fully God? Have you been taught the immutability of God? Do you know what it means that Christ’s righteousness was imputed to us as believers? Is there a system for ensuring you know the essentials of the faith? Has your pastor ever identified false teaching and warned you to avoid it? If not, you might not be in a church.

• Elders must meet the biblical qualifications. If your church has women “pastors,'“ it’s probably not a church. If your elders are given to drink too much or have fits of anger or are power-hungry, if their children are out of control, or if they are known philanderers, they aren’t qualified to be elders (1 Timothy 2, 2 Timothy 2:2, James 3, Titus 1:5-9).

• Everyone should be discipled and discipling. If your church doesn’t disciple you and expect you to turn around and disciple others, then it isn’t a church (Matthew 28:18-20).

• Every church must gather regularly to hold fast to the gospel and edify one another. If your church isn’t meeting to obey the commands of the church regardless of danger or legality, then it isn’t a church (Hebrews 10:23-25). See the 59 “one anothers” of Scripture. 

Faithful Churches Gather Together.

This brings us to the present crisis in the American church, the issue I believe to be most significant in this present moment. The fact is that God commanded the church to meet (Hebrews 10:23-25). Further, God gives us a myriad of commands that all require physical gathering. Even the biblical term for “church” (ἐκκλησία) involves gathering together. He expects that we meet together to break bread (Acts 2:42ff); greet one another (Rom. 16:16); lay hands to pray for the sick (James 5); meet one another’s needs (James 2:15); show mercy; hear the Word of God taught (Rom. 10:17); encourage one another with the singing of psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs (Eph. 5:19); etc.

God gives no exceptions to the command to gather. There is no exception for danger, none related to persecution, none for pandemics, none for softball games, none for having a hard day. None. You are expected to be with the family of God when they assemble (Hebrews 10:23-25).

There are a number of reasons why your presence is essential both for you and for the rest of the saints. 1 Peter 2:25 refers to believers as “living stones” in the temple of God, indicating that the Holy Spirit dwells in our midst in a unique way when we assemble together. In fact, each believer (including you) is expected to serve as a priest, administering spiritual sacrifices in ministry to the saints and in worship to God. Looking at 1 Corinthians 11-14 indicates that it is assumed that every believer is active in the assembly on a regular basis. Your spiritual gift is needed at the assembly, and you need the gifts of your church family to minister to you. Your absence hurts both you and your church family.

Make no mistake, if you are neglecting the assembly, you are violating the commands of God, and you are in sin. If your church is prohibiting the obedience to the commands of God, it is no longer a church, and you must leave to join a faithful church.

Special Note: We see instances in Scripture in which saints go on missionary journeys to plant churches or are thrown in prison or who by severe health issues are physically unable to assemble. These are instances of impossibility to gather, not neglecting to gather. So, unless you are bedridden, in prison, or risking your life to take the gospel to an unreached people group, you must assemble.

Video church doesn’t count. Your elders cannot shepherd you through a screen. You can’t use your gifts of encouragement and hospitality through a screen. You can’t bear one another’s burdens, break bread, confess sin, baptize, rebuke, and commune over a screen. Stop pretending. Stop listening to the newly minted false teacher, Andy Stanley, who denies the plain commands of Scripture to assemble. Repent and find a faithful church.

In case there is confusion, sitting six feed apart in a church building also doesn’t count. You can’t lay hands and pray, look someone in the eyes to confront sin, weep with those who weep, or rejoice with those who rejoice while sitting at a distance for fear that the very presence of your brother in Christ might kill you. It isn’t the assembly if you aren’t assembled together.

But What About Romans 13?

Inevitably, someone reading this will accuse me of rebellion, and tell me that I’m in violation of Romans 13. There is no time to address the idolatry of statism in detail here. However, I would urge those among you who would bend the knee to mandates and lockdown orders over the commands of God to consider who it is you obey. The early Church proclaimed that they must obey God rather than men (Acts 5:29), and that has been the theme of the Church for the whole of history. It has always been illegal to obey God somewhere. It has always been dangerous.

Anytime the laws of men get in the way of obeying the commands of God, the commands of God take priority. Notably, Romans 13 affirms that the purpose of rulers is to be a terror to evil, not to righteousness. The ruler is a servant to God, not the other way around. Never let a tyrant keep you from obeying the Word of God lest you find yourself worshipping the servant rather than the Master.

Fallout from Forsaking the Assembly

I recognize that it has been a little more dangerous to come to church lately. The virus is real. In some cases the penalties for gathering are real in the form of fines and harassment of churches.

Here is the counsel I have given those who forsake the assembly due to virus fears:

If you come to church, you MIGHT be exposed to the virus
(though we’ve been meeting for months with no cases).

If you get exposed to the virus, you MIGHT get it
(though we wash our hands and take care to keep things clean).

If you get the virus, you MIGHT experience symptoms
(though many never know they have it).

If you experience symptoms, they MIGHT be serious
(though many have only mild symptoms).

If your symptoms are serious, you MIGHT die
(though the death rate is low).

Special note: According to Johns Hopkins, the death rate is 2.2% of observed cases (which does not take into account those who have the virus and are never tested). The overall death rate of the virus is 76 per 100,000 of the populace. That’s a death rate of 0.00076. Notably, even if the death rate were higher, it wouldn’t change God’s commands for the church to gather together.

Conversely, if you continue to forsake the assembly…

You WILL suffer spiritually.

You WILL be disobeying biblical commands.

You WILL continue to suffer in depression.

You WILL be neglecting the saints who need to be ministered to by you.

You WILL be outside the shepherding care of the elders.

It is no coincidence that depression rates have tripled during virus restrictions. There have been similar spikes in suicide rates, domestic violence, and drug and alcohol abuse. While we can’t blame all of this on lack of church attendance, I can assure you that it is a stark contrast to the joy of the faithful saints I see gathered in our house churches every week.

Have You Been Under the Care of a Shepherd?

The truth is that many spent months “watching church,” happily enjoying video sermons while sitting in their pajamas. They didn’t even notice a difference because they weren’t really gathering in a biblical manner to begin with. Not surprisingly, attendance is expected to continue to be down. People who weren’t a part of biblical gatherings didn’t notice a difference when their churches shut down. Now that their churches are kind-of-sort-of-back-to-meeting under restrictions, they either aren’t returning or haven’t noticed that it’s still not a biblical assembly of the redeemed.

This is in large measure due to the realities mentioned above, but I see a dominant theme related to pastoral care. I’m not talking about nice-guy pastors who visit you in the hospital (though that is important). I’m talking about biblical shepherding that can only be done by a pastor who knows you, who uses Scripture to correct your sin and your beliefs, who prays for your marriage and comforts you when you are in crisis. Real pastors.

I pastor a relatively small network of house churches. Each of the elders oversees a small body of believers. The elders know them. They see how they treat their wives, how their kids behave, and how they interact with the Word. They know who is discipling whom. They know when there is a need. They speak concerns when someone is out of step with the Word. They affirm spiritual growth. They teach the Word. They identify false teaching and warn the saints to avoid it. This is pastoring, but few Christians in the U.S. have experienced it.

It is not uncommon for me to receive a call from brothers caught in sin who attend other churches. In every case, I admonish them to talk to their pastors. But the reality is that they are only talking to me because they are not being overseen by their pastor in the first place. I’ve sent some to their pastors to ask to be shepherded. Some pastors have spoken plainly that they do not know what that means. Others admit to avoiding it intentionally. I once sat in a room packed with pastors who admitted that they are not discipling anyone, because they knew raising the bar for faithful living would cause their church to shrink. (I rebuked them and was scolded for it.)

Confession: I’m a bi-vocational pastor. Most of the elders in my church work for no pay at all. Hearing pastors making 6 figures admit to not obeying the basic command to make disciples makes me pretty angry. When saints in their churches can’t even get them to respond to an email in a time of crisis, I go from angry to heartbroken. When I hear of those churches teaching false doctrine and ignoring Scripture, I go back to furious again. I’ve considered sending those churches invoices when I care for their sheep. Instead, I’m turning to a new approach….

The Faithful Remnant

One thing is certain: God has always had His remnant (Romans 11:2-5). His believing saints are always there, often in small numbers, but always faithful. Over the last month or so, I have received 2-3 calls a week from Christians discouraged that their churches are not teaching Scripture, not fulfilling God’s commands for the church, or are otherwise capitulating to cultural trends.

You will recall that my advice to them before was to stay in the unfaithful church and work to change it from the inside.

Recently, my counsel has changed. Why encourage faithful saints to remain in churches that aren’t churches led by pastors who aren’t pastors?

Believers are meant to assemble together in genuine church families.

I hesitate to use illustrations, but it so happens that this one remains in my mind daily: We have a lot of fires in our fire pit (usually because we have people over to fellowship around the fire). At the end of the evening, the logs have burned down and the coals burn the hottest. To cool the fire, I spread the coals out as far from one another as possible. This causes them to cool and eventually burn out. Conversely, the way to keep a fire going, the best way to increase the heat, is to press the coals together and add fuel.

It is no coincidence that so many Christians grow discouraged over time, cooling in faithless, unbiblical churches. Not only are they isolated from true believers, they are under a constant barrage of bad teaching that further snuffs out the faithful flame. As faithless (and some faithful) churches shrink, and as persecution looms imminent on the horizon, I think often about what would happen if we heaped the coals up.

A key purpose for coming together is to stir up love and good works through edification and to hold fast to the hope of the gospel (Hebrews 10:23-25). I’ve heard so many speak of how discouraged they feel sitting in socially distant churches hearing unbiblical sermons from behind masks. I like to point out that such an effect is the opposite of what the assembly is to do. I wonder if it is because so many Christians are like hot coals literally distanced from the other coals.

I’m advocating that we pull the hot coals out of the faithless churches and bring them together.

My Counsel to You:

Let me be clear. Don’t leave your church just because you are discontent. If your gripe is with the style of music or frustration that you aren’t getting your way, then it is you that must repent, not your church. However, if you ache to make disciples, if you love the truth of the Word of God, if you can’t help but preach the gospel, your not a malcontent, you are a believer!

So, discern if your church is biblical (see above criteria). If you are in a faithful church, praise God! Labor faithfully. Make disciples. Support your pastor. He is undoubtedly struggling right now. Increase your time with the saints. Host dinner in your home. Fellowship. Be the Church.

However, if your church is not functioning biblically, confront your pastor with Scripture. If he repents, you have gained a faithful shepherd. If he doesn’t, leave and find a faithful church. Your spirit and the souls of your family can’t afford for you to wait. The Kingdom of God needs faithful men and women of God doing the gospel work, not distracted fighting futile battles with wolf shepherds. Parents, your children need to sit under faithful teaching (Romans 10:17). Husband, your wife needs to see you lead as the spiritual head of your home. You need to be under a faithful pastor. Kick the dust off of your feet and leave now. You are needed elsewhere.

Need to know how to find a healthy church? I can help.

One year ago today, we released Follow: A Handbook for Making Disciples of Jesus Christ in a Kindle Edition.  Today, we are releasing it on paperback!  Have a look at what leaders are saying about the book.  Then, purchase two copies, one for you and one for the person you will disciple this year.  Then, get to the work of making disciples.  

Power or Jesus

The gospel message is quite simple, and can be fully communicated in just a few points:

• You were created in God's image to glorify Him by enjoying relationship with Him (Genesis 1:26).
• All humans have separated themselves with God by disobeying him (Romans 3:23).  
• Jesus paid our sin debt through His atoning death and resurrection.  (Romans 6:23,1 Peter 3:18)
• Restoration with God requires only that we believe in Jesus' death and resurrection, repent of our sin (pride, self-reliance), and surrender to Jesus as Lord. (Romans 10:9-10)

Salvation in Christ requires no work on our part (Ephesians 2:8), and that is what makes it so difficult.  We want to earn things.  We want to do it our way.  Our pride and rebellion get in the way of experiencing the life of wholeness for which God created us.  

However, when we forsake our selfish bent toward self-empowerment, everything changes.  When I make Jesus my King, I become a citizen of His Kingdom.  There realities of that allegiance are more threatening to people of power than any weapon created by men.  I'm going to take some time to explore this reality today.  

Obeying God or Obeying Men

Scripture teaches us to obey human rulers (Romans 13) but only inasmuch as doing so does not infringe upon obedience to God.  Scripture seems to show more examples of civil disobedience to governing authorities than to obedience.  

• In Daniel 3, King Nebuchadnezzar wants to further establish his power through state-sponsored idolatry.  Daniel's friends refused to bow down to it and God was glorified in their obedience to God rather than man.  
• In Acts 4, Peter and John directly disobey the religious leaders who feel their power threatened by the disciples' allegiance to Jesus.  
• The entire New Testament chronicles how Jesus followers disobey religious and governmental leaders by obeying Jesus rather than the laws of men.  

The primary sin of man is pride.  People want power.  They want to do things their way and feel secure in their own strength.  As we mentioned, this is antithetical to the Kingdom of God in which Jesus is ruler over all.  

Men and women who seek after power know that others want power too.  The lust for power is the leverage wielded by men of power to gain it from others.  In Daniel 6, it was the desire to obtain more power that led the high officials to find fault in Daniel.  It was the King Darius's own pride that allowed them to so easily talk him into creating the a law that forbid prayer to anyone but himself.  The grasp for power is the one consistent leverage evil rulers have learned to count on in order to consolodate their own power.  An economy of power, perpetuated by the greed for more of it.  

Breaking the Economy of Power

But making Jesus my King removes me from the human power struggle.  Men of power fear this more than anything.  Authoritarian leaders know their power will erode if people no longer grasp for it.  The Kingdom of God is the greatest fear of the kings of men.  

Further, if I am obedient to Jesus as King, I will obey human rulers only to the extend that doing so will not compromise obedience to Jesus.  No tyrant likes a citizen who is allegiant to the True King. 

In my next post, I will discuss the nature of the Kingdom of God and how specifically it makes the structures of men obsolete.  For now, we must acclimate ourselves to the knowledge that being a part of the Kingdom of God makes us enemies to the kingdom of men.  

For now, take some time to seek Jesus.  Do I want Jesus more than I want control?  Do I want Him to rule more than I want my candidate to win?  Am I prepared to endure persecution and death for my obedience to Jesus?  Does my life reflect that of Jesus?  Am I a citizen of God's Kingdom or my own?  (More on this to come.) 

Those who know me personally know that I speak openly about political issues while remaining largely silent about my preferred political candidates.  Of late, I have become more open about certain candidates who espouse policies and behaviors which I do not support.  As campaign season continues, my frustration grows and I speak more boldly in opposition to political behaviors that are sinful.  

The time has come and now remains when God's people must forsake their political idolatry and turn to the Kingship of Jesus over the rule of men.  

Note: A day may come when this post is used against me in court of law.  May the evidence that Jesus is my King be so overwhelming that my conviction come quickly.  No matter who is president, Jesus will be my King.  I will obey him over and against all other authorities.  

Before you label me a rabble-rouser, please finish reading.  It's much worse than you think.  

This week, This American Life Podcast spent Act One of their show on the story of a Trump supporter named "Alex."  He is from a conservative, church-going family and is an African-American, gay teen who seems to refer to himself as an "evangelical".  The interviews with him and his family were intriguing.  Perhaps most interesting was his take on why he and so many other Republicans support Donald Trump despite the fact that his policies and behavior run contrary to both conservative and evangelical values (He's anti-gun, pro-choice, pro-gay marriage, denies the need to repent for his sin, advocates for religious discrimination, the list goes on...).  

Alex's dad made this comment:"The reason Alex likes Trump is because Trump shows power, and Alex is about power because he was so impotent as a child.  There is something powerful about Trump and that appeals to Alex.  When he pictures [his future], he pictures himself like Donald Trump."  Alex seemed to concur with his father's assessment. "I don't focus on wealth; I focus on power," he specified.   He then went on to quote Frank Underwood, the fictional villain/protagonist from Netflix' House of Cards, "A fool goes after money, but someone who really seeks to control goes after power."  

The "power vote."  That is the category Alex and so many other Trump voters fit into.  They feel that our country has become weak and needs power.  

Take some time to consider to ruminate on this oxymoronic reality.  Evangelicals are supposed to be the people who really believe in Jesus.  We are theologically conservative, believing that Jesus really did raise from the dead, that He really did tell us to forsake all and follow Him, that He really is returning to restore all things, that the Kingdom of God described in Matthew 5-7 means forgiving those who sin against us and caring for orphans and widows, that our strength is in Him rather than ourselves.  Ultimately, evangelicalism is supposed to mean that we cease grasping for power in favor of honoring the Kingship of Jesus.  Yet, this massive conservative voting base has rallied around a candidate (Donald Trump) who grasps after power more than anything.  

They exchanged the Kingdom of God for the kingdoms of man.  They grasped after power, safety, and security.  They rejected Jesus' call to take up the cross and follow.  They quote power-hungry, political villains rather than the Word of God.  

It is not the rise of Trump that discourages me; it is the painful revelation that people who should be my brothers and sister in Christ have made an idol of power and left the Kingdom of God for the kingdom of man.  

Lest you who find Trump appalling would use this to rally your support for some other candidate, let me be very clear.  All men will fail.  Trump's power thirst is easy to condemn due to it's caricature qualities.  Other candidates find more palatable means at grasping for power, but they do it nonetheless.  Don't put your hope in candidates.  Don't assume that his/her policies will heal our country.  They will all fail.  It will all crumble.  

Hope in the Lord.  

The election season has reminded me of the need for teaching on the Kingdom of God.  Few American Christians have a sound understanding of what it means to honor Jesus as King.  Look for more posts to come soon.  

Over time, Kingdom focus and Great Commission labor has eroded all pretense in my approach with Christians, leaving little but a bold simplicity that has little patience for anything that inhibits disciple-making.  By God's grace, I manage to maintain a gregarious tone in most of my admonitions, however direct they may be. However, there are days in which even my natural demeanor is exasperated, and all that is left is a line in the sand.  

Today is such a day, and I make no apology for it.  

Never before have Jesus' words from Luke 10 been so real to me.  The harvest is indeed plentiful and the laborers are indeed few.  

Every day, I spend time with people who don't know Jesus, people who are void of the the hope that is found in knowing Jesus, and I ache for God to receive the glory He deserves for their redemption.  And, every day I find myself looking to the left and to the right seeing only a faithful few harvesters bearing the burdens of disciple-making, swinging their scythes in this great harvest of souls.   And, every day I pray for more laborers....every day.  

A Life's Worth of Excuses

Let me tell you what a tragedy is.  Every day, millions of Christians spend all of their waking hours giving no thought to spiritual death their neighbors live.  Every week, those same Christians show up to a building where they have an experience and do nothing of significance to advance the Kingdom.  Every year, millions of dollars are spent on making that experience as comfortable and as entertaining as possible for those very same Christians who are doing nothing to fulfill the Great Commission.  

I no longer just pray for laborers.  I seek them out.  I ask them to leave their comforts and join the harvest.  The excuses I hear are soul-starving.  They include, "It's not my gifting" and "I'm busy with (fill in the blank) and can't help right now."  Most recently, I started doing the math on stage of life excuses.  Consider this list of excuses when listed in chronological order: "I'm too busy with school."  "I'm too busy getting established in my new job."  "I just got married."  "We just had kids."  "My kids are in elementary school, and I just don't have time for more."  "My kids are in Middle/High School, and I'm focused on them right now."  "Our kids just graduated, and we're taking time to travel as empty nesters."  "I'm really busy planning my son/daughter's wedding."  "My grandkids get all my time right now."  "I'm too old and tired."  "Let the young people do it. I've done enough."  I don't know whether to cry or curse.  I usually do both.  

Christians have an entire life's worth of excuses not to join the harvest, and I cannot hear one more of them.  My heart is broken for the lost and by the found, and my arms are weary from swinging this scythe alone.  

It is now that my heart aligns with the Keith Green's lyrics from decades ago when he calls out a church that remains Asleep in the Light.  Have a listen.  

The Last Measure of Kindness put to an Appeal

So, I appeal to you with the last measure of kindness Jesus has made available to me today.  Will you really forsake all and follow Him?  Will you leave your comfortable church building and love those who won't come in?  Will you leave your office cubicle and take the gospel to the person at the end of the hall?  Will you leave your financial security and give to the poor?  Will you leave your programing and sound system and go into the home of a person of peace whom God is drawing to Himself (Luke 10)?  Will you leave your TV and pray for your unsaved neighbor? 

If the answer is "no" and you would rather stay comfortable than be on mission, then make that clear to Jesus and to yourself.  Don't go on pretending that you are an agent of His Kingdom.  Admit to yourself and to God that you don't care about Him or the people He loves, so we can all leave you to your carnal devices.  

But, if the answer is "yes," then I can offer you several opportunities today.  This is no admonition to make some ambiguous commitment to "try to do more."  I have some specifics.  Here you go: 

• Volunteer to lead children's ministry in one of our house churches.  We have several kids that don't know Jesus yet, but are eager to hear about Him every week.
• Volunteer to host a house church in your home.  Invite your lost neighbors over for dinner, and invite me or another person to show up and share Jesus.  
• Give to support missions and church planting in all the places no one is going.  You can do that right here through the Great Commission Fund.  
• Take on my son as your little disciple.  He has some special needs that limit my wife and I both in ministry.  He needs someone to minister him, and you could radically influence the Kingdom of God by caring for him and freeing my wife and I to serve more.  
• Leave your comfortable church and help plant a church. You can come to mine or I can connect you with 30 different church planters in Northeast Ohio or elsewhere.  Tell me where you are (dan@restorationamherst.org) and I'll find a church plant near you.  
• The next time someone tells you we don't need any more churches, remind them that most evangelism is happening through church plants.  Then punch them in the face and tell them it was from me.  
• Sell everything you own and go make disciples somewhere else in the world.  Here's how to get started.    I'm not kidding.  God may want you to sell everything and go.  
• Stop whatever you are doing, and make a list of lost friends, family, and acquaintances.  Then pray for them every day.  

The harvest is plentiful and I have plenty of scythes.  Whose with me?